Emma's heart raced as she stepped into the dimly lit bar, her eyes immediately drawn to the figure sitting alone in the corner. He was the epitome of a bad boy - rugged features, a leather jacket, and an aura of danger that sent shivers down her spine. She knew she shouldn't be attracted to someone like him, but there was something about the way he carried himself that was utterly captivating.

As she approached him, she could feel the weight of his gaze upon her, sizing her up, and she couldn't help but feel a sense of excitement mixed with trepidation. "Hi, I'm Emma," she said, her voice barely above a whisper.

"Jax," he replied, his deep voice sending a jolt of electricity through her body. "What's a girl like you doing in a place like this?"

Emma felt her cheeks flush as she took the seat across from him. "I, uh, I was just looking for a quiet place to have a drink," she stammered, cursing herself for sounding so nervous.

Jax chuckled, a mischievous glint in his eyes. "Well, you certainly found the right place. This isn't exactly the kind of crowd you'd find at your typical bar."

Emma glanced around the dimly lit room, taking in the various patrons - some nursing drinks, others engaged in hushed conversations, and a few who looked like they might be up to no good. "I can see that," she said, her voice steadier now.

Jax leaned back in his chair, his gaze never leaving her face. "So, what brings you here, Emma? You don't exactly strike me as the type who's used to slumming it in a place like this."

Emma felt a surge of defiance. "Maybe I'm not," she said, meeting his gaze head-on. "But sometimes a girl just needs to get away from it all, you know?"

Jax raised an eyebrow, a hint of a smile playing on his lips. "Is that so? Well, in that case, I think you and I might have more in common than you think."

Over the next few weeks, Emma found herself drawn to Jax like a moth to a flame. They would meet at the bar, sometimes talking for hours, and other times simply sitting in comfortable silence, their eyes locked in a silent conversation. Emma knew that she should be wary of him, that he was the kind of guy who could only bring her trouble, but there was something about the way he made her feel that she couldn't resist.

One night, as they sat in their usual corner, Jax leaned in close, his breath tickling her ear. "I've got a proposition for you, Emma," he murmured.

Emma felt her heart skip a beat. "What kind of proposition?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

Jax's lips curved into a smile. "How would you like to come with me on a little adventure?"

Emma hesitated, her mind racing with a thousand different thoughts. She knew that saying yes would be a risk, that it could lead her down a path she might not be able to come back from. But there was a part of her that was intrigued, that wanted to see what kind of adventure Jax had in mind.

"What kind of adventure?" she asked, her curiosity getting the better of her.

Jax's eyes gleamed with excitement. "The kind that'll make your heart race and your blood sing," he said, his voice low and intense.

Emma felt a shiver of anticipation run down her spine. "Okay," she said, the word slipping out before she could stop herself.

Jax grinned, his hand reaching across the table to grasp hers. "Then let's get out of here," he said, his voice filled with a sense of urgency.

Emma followed him out of the bar, her mind racing with a thousand different thoughts. She knew that she was taking a risk, that she was putting herself in a situation that could be dangerous, but there was a part of her that didn't care. She wanted to feel alive, to experience something that was beyond the confines of her safe and predictable life.

As they drove through the city, Emma couldn't help but feel a sense of exhilaration. The wind whipping through her hair, the thrum of the engine beneath her, and the knowledge that she was doing something completely out of the ordinary - it all combined to create a heady atmosphere.

"You're playing with fire," Emma's friend, Laura, told her one afternoon when Jax had been away on a business trip, "He's not nice and he's full of himself."?

"We've barely talked," Emma said, "He is quiet, but yes he has a temper. He's a high elf and I am not. Who knows what the future will bring?"

"Nothing good. He's using you."

"She's just jealous," May said as she swooped in to help with the dishes that the other two had piled up, "Go away, Laura, and let me talk to her."

Emma smiled, "I don't need to get a lecture from you, too."

"No lecture, but Jax will be back and you know what he wants from you."

"Yes, he propositioned it before the trip."

"Are you going to take him up on the offer?"

"It's a lot of money."

"As long as he treats you well."

"He'll be my employer and a free ride to college," Emma said, "I think of him as a friend."

"Don't."

"Not you, too."

"Jax is a handsome elf and he's rich, but he's a cad and you know it."

"I'll keep that in mind."

When Jax returned, Emma was practically swept off her feet with gifts.

"What is all of the this?"

"Enticing you to say yes."

"But you're a high elf. All you have to do,-"

"I am not forcing you, Emma," Jax said, "Please? Come home with me and be my personal assistant."

Emma smiled, "It's a deal."

"A deal before you've seen a contract?"

"I have nothing to lose, Jax."

"Oh?"

"I'm..." Emma looked around and stepped closer to the high elf whose men were on guard, but stood down when Jax lifted a hand, "I'm dying, Jax."

"I didn't know you were human.."

"Half..I'm half-human.."

Jax studied her from across the room where she'd allowed her to settle in on the leather couch in his office.

"I didn't think it was that big of a deal," Emma shrugged, "I,-"

"My father doesn't need to know any of this. Do you understand?"

"But,-"

"Do you understand?" Jax was on her in a flash, pulling her into him as his eyes met hers, "He will kill you and force me to watch."

"I am not worth living?"

"You are - just not to my dad," Jax sighed, "This heart condition? Enlarged?"

"Yes," she said, "I don't know what will happen to me, but I am going to fade years before you do."

"Your parents are gone.."

"My father left, but my mother died. She was human and passed giving birth to me."

"It's a secret," Jax said, pulling her hair behind her pointed ears, "I promise."

"A cad you are not."

"I can be, but not with you."

As the weeks passed, Jax and Emma grew more fond of each other, with Jax's father rarely even noticing Emma's existence.

"I..."

"Emma!" Jax caught her before she fainted, "Emma.."

"Fucking hell!" Bruce called from the foyer, "What is wrong with her?!"

"She's...she's...just...dehydrated," Jax said, wondering if people knew his father was the same asshole he was to him that he was to others, "I will see to it that she's taken care of."

"You'd better.." Bruce snarled, "I can't stand this bullshit. More people to take care of.."

Jax cradled Emma in his arms, carrying her to her bedroom where it smelled like her, vanilla and lilacs.

"We need to see a human doctor."

"It's too late for me."

"No," Jax said, "It isn't. I need you."

"You don't need me, Jax.." Emma said, "Let's just be together now before it is too late for me."

"I win again!"?

Emma's voice echoed through Jax's office as she beat him once more at Rummy.

"I love seeing you smile," Jax said, "You've hid it well."

"Hid what well?"

"Your illness and your truth," Jax said.

"You haven't hidden your women."

"Jealous?"

"Very."

"Don't be. They mean nothing."

"Then why have them around?"

"They satisfy me."

Emma shuffled the cards and placed them back in the box. She took a sip of water and looked at the clock on the wall.

"I have to get ready for the conference," she said, "Your father didn't like that I was late last time."

"He got over it."

"He won't next time," Emma said, "Don't be late!"

Jax watched as she scurried away, his heart full.

He wanted to be with her, but his father had other plans.

"I have a woman I'd like you to meet tonight," Bruce said, "Daughter of the High Elves of Raul."

"I don't want one."

"A woman?"

"I think I found,-"

"Not that girl!" Bruce snarled, "I will cut you off so fast,-"

"Then cut me off!" Jax said, "I don't need the money or fame!"

"Silence. This nonsense is deafening. You will meet her and you will get your mind off of that wench. I sent her away earlier."

"What do you mean?"

"I banished her from my sight!" Bruce told him, "She's been gone for hours - or were you unaware?"

"NO!!!"

Jax flung open Emma's bedroom doors, finding her bed made and her things gone.

"Fuck!"

He raced through the house, calling his men and a car - grabbing the few items he had and a phone to try and call her.

He rushed outside and slid into the car as his father watched from the window of his office.

"Stupid.." Bruce mumbled, "You're dead to me, Jax."

"Where is she?!" Jax plowed through the doors of the club as his guards wondered what his dilemma was, "Where is Emma?!"

Laura and May stepped out from behind the bar, "She left. She was crying, you piece of shit. Your father put her on a flight out of here!"

"TO WHERE?"

"The ticket said Mallorca."

Jax rushed to the airport, but he only took his car and driver.

He made it to the airport in time for a red-eye flight to Mallorca.

"She'll die if I don't get to her."

"That's very nice of you, but I don't know anyone here," Emma said as she was picked up by some man in a decent car, "I don't even know the language - my apologies."

The country had been bustling with elves since the dawn of time and they'd recently come out of hiding. She felt safe, but she missed Jax.

"Well, this is it," the driver said, "This is where your father told me to take her."

"Why did you help me, Pat?"

"I enjoy watching young love bloom."

Jax smiled, "I must get to her and treat her as soon as possible. I think I found a cleric."

"I knew you would - and I know exactly who she is."

"You have an impressive resume," Don said as he looked over Emma's papers, "They said you would, though."

"Thank you," Emma sighed, so sad that she couldn't even cry anymore, "I am happy that you think so. I am ready and willing to work whenever and wherever needed."

"You're needed with me!" Jax entered the room, startling both Don and Emma.

Don, who figured he was coming, pulled out the pistol he had hidden away and took the shot.

"NO!!!" Emma tossed herself in front of Jax and shielded him from the witch bane bullet, "JAX!!!"

Hitting her, she crumpled to the floor, taking Jax with her.

Pat rushed in and tackled Don who was incapacitated in no time.

"You!" Pat pointed to the secretary who'd come in to see what the commotion was about, "Go get Margie!"

The woman rushed out of the room as Pat shot Don dead - a bullet straight through the heart.

An elderly woman - followed by the secretary - ambled into the office.

"Oh, child.." Margie smiled, "You did take a hit, but look at you - healing already."

Jax held her close, watching the bullet slip out of the healing hole in her lower back.

"Please help her...I need her," Jax pleaded.

"She's already helped," Margie said, "Love does that to a half-elf, my dear boy."

"What?" Jax asked, "I don't understand."

"Your love for her healed her heart," Margie smiled, "Now, I will do this for free, but the next time you two need a healer, it'll cost ya!"

Jax and Emma embraced as Pat disposed of Don's body, calling in the guards to help and letting Bruce know that Jax wouldn't be coming back.

"I love you, Jax.." Emma said, "I have never loved before now."

"I think I loved you the moment I met you.." he kissed her tenderly on the lips, "I don't have a penny to my name anymore, but I want you to be with me."

"Forever?"

"As long as our hearts are beating - forever.."